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Two jailed for vodka poison plot | Two jailed for vodka poison plot |
(30 minutes later) | |
Two men who sent vodka bottles filled with poison through the post as part of a campaign for Scottish independence have each been jailed for six years. | |
Wayne Cook, 46, and Steven Robinson, 42, sent the miniature bottles full of caustic soda to a Glasgow journalist and a Lancashire councillor. | |
A note threatening to kill English people "at random" was also sent. | A note threatening to kill English people "at random" was also sent. |
The men from Tyldesley, Greater Manchester, were part of a Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA) plot. | The men from Tyldesley, Greater Manchester, were part of a Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA) plot. |
Cook, an Englishman, was found guilty under anti-terror laws last week of two counts of using noxious substances or things to cause harm and intimidate. | Cook, an Englishman, was found guilty under anti-terror laws last week of two counts of using noxious substances or things to cause harm and intimidate. |
You boasted of what you could do, you expressed hatred of the English Judge Robert Atherton | You boasted of what you could do, you expressed hatred of the English Judge Robert Atherton |
Robinson, a Scot, pleaded guilty to the charges at an earlier hearing. | Robinson, a Scot, pleaded guilty to the charges at an earlier hearing. |
The two miniature vodka bottles were sent in April last year to John Wright, a member of Blackburn with Darwen Council, and Scottish Daily Express journalist Myra Philp. | The two miniature vodka bottles were sent in April last year to John Wright, a member of Blackburn with Darwen Council, and Scottish Daily Express journalist Myra Philp. |
Royal Mail staff intercepted the parcel to Mr Wright but the second made it to Ms Philp. | Royal Mail staff intercepted the parcel to Mr Wright but the second made it to Ms Philp. |
It was accompanied by a note signed by the Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA). | It was accompanied by a note signed by the Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA). |
The note threatened that English people would be killed "at random and with no discrimination or compunction" in order to convince the British Government to withdraw from Scotland. | The note threatened that English people would be killed "at random and with no discrimination or compunction" in order to convince the British Government to withdraw from Scotland. |
'Very dangerous' | 'Very dangerous' |
There was also a threat to poison England's water supplies. | There was also a threat to poison England's water supplies. |
During Cook's trial, the prosecution claimed he had become involved in the plot to take revenge against Blackburn with Darwen Council after his son Shane died in their care. | |
The court heard how Robinson had claimed he was acting under instructions from Adam Busby, a man who claims to lead the SNLA. | The court heard how Robinson had claimed he was acting under instructions from Adam Busby, a man who claims to lead the SNLA. |
It was also told that the concentration of the caustic soda in the two miniature bottles was so high that the "worst-case scenario" for the intended recipients was death. | It was also told that the concentration of the caustic soda in the two miniature bottles was so high that the "worst-case scenario" for the intended recipients was death. |
Judge Robert Atherton, passing sentence, said he questioned the remorse Robinson had shown since arrest. | Judge Robert Atherton, passing sentence, said he questioned the remorse Robinson had shown since arrest. |
"What you did was very dangerous indeed. | "What you did was very dangerous indeed. |
"You boasted of what you could do, you expressed hatred of the English. | "You boasted of what you could do, you expressed hatred of the English. |
"I find it hard to believe that you have changed so radically in the last few months." | "I find it hard to believe that you have changed so radically in the last few months." |
He told Cook that he accepted his role in the plot had been less than Robinson's but that his failure to plead guilty meant he should receive the same sentence. | He told Cook that he accepted his role in the plot had been less than Robinson's but that his failure to plead guilty meant he should receive the same sentence. |